Cancer Zodiac Sign Tapestry
1970s
Sold 4/3/2022
Vintage cut-pile carpet tapestry depicting a lobster or crayfish and the astrological symbol of Cancer. I purchased this tapestry in Switzerland, but I believe its most likely French, from the 1970s. In excellent condition with no fraying, damage or tears. Approximately 19 in (with fringe) x 13 in.
In the Middle Ages, the zodiacal symbol of Cancer often appeared in the calendar pages of devotional books, or on adorned monumental sculpture of the Middle Ages. Generally, the depiction of the sign of Cancer as a crab is most prevalent in art from the Mediterranean and Western Europe, possibly due to the proximity to the sea, but the crayfish as a symbol for Cancer is not unusual, even in coastal regions. Crabs are saltwater decapods, creatures with ten feet or five pairs of legs. Crayfish are also decapods, but they thrive in freshwater lakes and rivers. Summer was the best season for fishing, and crayfish were easily trapped along the streams and creeks of rural Europe. The French and the English were the first to incorporate crayfish into their diet.
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